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Kazakhstan will remain a country with a presidential form of government, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has said. Delivering a pre-recorded state-of-the-nation address on 28 February, Nazarbayev, however, said that more powers will be given to parliament in the formation of the government, the Constitutional Council and the election body. Nazarbayev pledged to continue to carry out a responsible energy policy and called for strengthening Kazakhstan's position in the global energy industry. The Kazakh president ordered the government to join the WTO on favourable conditions and boost the country's economic competitiveness. Nazarbayev also proposed setting up a Eurasian economic union, without specifying countries that could join it, but at the same time stressed that economic cooperation within the framework of the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Community and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was a priority. The following is an excerpt from the address, broadcast by Kazakh Khabar TV on 28 February; subheadings inserted editorially:
[Nazarbayev in Kazakh] Good morning, dear people of Kazakhstan, dear MPs and government members, ladies and gentlemen.
Since the first days of independence we have had to be very steadfast, and a new Kazakhstan is now confidently progressing as time goes by. Our country, which has chosen its own way of development, has achieved wide renown and its standing in the international community is rising year after year.
We have laid a strong foundation of our economy and state. Economic, social, political and administrative policies have been thoroughly drafted to ensure Kazakhstan's further development and bright future, and we have taken a decisive step into an absolutely new era.
Today I am going to tell you about the future development of our country and society. If our plans are implemented, Kazakhstan will surely be able to make a true breakthrough of historic significance.
Today's report will outline significant measures for Kazakhstan to join the world's 50 most competitive countries. The previous address also dwelt on this.
Today I will speak about how we can achieve this goal, what measures can be taken, and what every official, especially senior state officials, should do.
You will recall that in 1997 you approved the Kazakhstan-2030 development strategy which was put forward by me. As is known, the strategy was about the future of our society...